2015 Group Cruise to Alaska on Pearl

Planning a 50th Anniversary trip to Alaska. I always stress over travel arrangements, best deal, etc, but planning for 25-30 people will send you to Looney-Town. :)

We are looking for the best deal possible, and only have two dates plus September that are out. I am asking, pleading, begging for your expert advice. So far it looks like NCL Pearl is our best price for RT Seattle. I am looking at the May 24th-31st sailing.

Is it best to book straight through NCL? If so, for what reasons? I have found better prices on vac2go, just not sure who would take the best care of us.

I am planning to book OV to receive the offers then watch closely for the ones that are able to transfer to a balcony if the price decreases. Is this a good idea?

I have cruised on Getaway and RCL's Quantum of the Seas in the last year, so I am a little spoiled to new ships. I haven't been able to find any newer ships that are in Alaska...especially at a good price. (We were incredibly lucky on the Getaway!) Can anyone tell me if the Pearl has been updated recently? The only pics I was able to find looked fairly dated. NCL's website says it has been updated, but no date. Any insight would be very much appreciated.

Any reason to book as a group with the cruiseline versus a TA as a non-group? I would like to get a final payment date as late as possible because of a family member waiting on word from a bid on a large construction project. Are there any tips/tricks to get a final payment date later than the usual 70 days out?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to help! :)

I would first contact the NCL group rate specialist.

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/groups

Once you know what NCL will do, you can compare it to a TA quote.

I would expect things to run a little smoother and have less of a chance of a screwup. If things did get sideways, it seems it would be easier to get it straightened out if you are working with them directly.

In 2012 the Pearl was one of the few NCL ships that had an events coordinator that handled the M&G and also other events like anniversaries and large groups onboard. She mentioned things like arranging cakes, receptions and other special events onboard.

I would think that there is also someone at NCL that would also help with all of this. I have a real good TA who I would use to run interference with NCL. I would not use one from a big box store or online.

Thanks for your thoughts...I tend to agree with both of you on this matter. Is there a way to get NCL to match the TA's price? I have already given the group the lower prices and I know they are not going to react positively when I inform them of the increase. (100.00 per cabin)

Also, I found the pics that eroller posted of the Pearl. They are awesome and have abolished all concerns of the Pearl being outdated...she looks wonderful! Thanks, eroller!

We will be on the May 24-31 sailing of the Pearl as well. Should you decide to book, definitely come on over to the Roll Call page we have going and say hi!

Large TAs can (and do) book large blocks of rooms to get the max discount from NCL - they can hold them for up to 6mos. They can then offer you a price lower than NCL and still make a profit - as long as they sell all the cabins they booked in the 6mo timeframe.

Smaller TAs (like mine) can get discounts starting at 6 cabins. I have not ask him if he then works with the groups department at NCL or not. I do know that he does not go through the same department as the PCCs - he has a special person who deals only with TAs.

I do think that when you get to the right department at NCL you will do fine.

Thanks for the invite, Alegeeter. I'll be sure and do that.

I do think that when you get to the right department at NCL you will do fine.

Sounds good. Hopefully the booking process will be behind me as of tomorrow.